The Central African Republic has a GDP of $2.75B compared to $107B for Cuba, ranking 171/197 and 69/197 by economy size, respectively.
The chart below compares the two countries' GDP growth in both current (nominal) and constant dollars, accounting for inflation over time.
| Year | GDP | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
CAR
|
Cuba
|
|||
| Current $ | Constant $ | Current $ | Constant $ | |
| 1960 | $112,155,598 | $980,371,514 | - | - |
| 1961 | $123,134,583 | $1,028,934,744 | - | - |
| 1962 | $124,482,774 | $990,722,164 | - | - |
| 1963 | $129,379,124 | $983,717,651 | - | - |
| 1964 | $142,025,079 | $1,004,182,172 | - | - |
| 1965 | $150,574,795 | $1,013,697,588 | - | - |
| 1966 | $157,930,018 | $1,020,233,745 | - | - |
| 1967 | $163,820,514 | $1,067,946,130 | - | - |
| 1968 | $191,767,442 | $1,082,941,303 | - | - |
| 1969 | $188,039,210 | $1,159,738,546 | - | - |
| 1970 | $189,106,529 | $1,186,793,864 | $5,693,005,200 | $23,120,654,813 |
| 1971 | $201,450,800 | $1,200,207,037 | $6,914,658,400 | $25,105,299,225 |
| 1972 | $230,317,883 | $1,200,196,629 | $8,135,150,892 | $26,317,053,149 |
| 1973 | $271,183,082 | $1,222,867,623 | $9,987,709,650 | $27,220,909,322 |
| 1974 | $281,398,706 | $1,300,385,612 | $11,405,957,317 | $27,488,896,946 |
| 1975 | $378,660,016 | $1,305,652,006 | $13,027,415,244 | $30,093,861,943 |
| 1976 | $451,152,461 | $1,376,581,800 | $13,789,579,903 | $31,727,344,869 |
| 1977 | $507,298,148 | $1,428,977,737 | $14,206,158,675 | $34,490,638,879 |
| 1978 | $610,578,632 | $1,446,257,442 | $17,844,705,325 | $36,765,640,924 |
| 1979 | $700,764,748 | $1,410,605,203 | $19,584,443,288 | $37,165,718,489 |
| 1980 | $797,048,199 | $1,347,429,290 | $19,912,889,861 | $35,363,388,174 |
| 1981 | $694,803,623 | $1,326,618,708 | $20,150,254,096 | $42,325,850,269 |
| 1982 | $748,312,391 | $1,428,977,737 | $20,953,510,235 | $46,100,569,047 |
| 1983 | $658,679,333 | $1,312,851,667 | $22,204,940,512 | $48,595,287,844 |
| 1984 | $637,820,670 | $1,437,332,673 | $24,039,383,608 | $52,448,756,410 |
| 1985 | $864,849,836 | $1,493,779,883 | $22,920,490,774 | $53,286,192,381 |
| 1986 | $1,122,265,013 | $1,547,227,017 | $24,226,574,634 | $53,336,975,926 |
| 1987 | $1,200,991,978 | $1,470,809,662 | $25,213,935,012 | $52,055,729,738 |
| 1988 | $1,264,899,288 | $1,495,962,938 | $27,458,999,472 | $53,984,675,578 |
| 1989 | $1,233,930,281 | $1,525,542,171 | $27,023,468,666 | $54,351,816,305 |
| 1990 | $1,440,711,459 | $1,492,780,725 | $28,645,436,569 | $52,749,217,703 |
| 1991 | $1,377,374,987 | $1,484,532,469 | $24,316,556,026 | $47,108,903,627 |
| 1992 | $1,411,917,553 | $1,389,164,943 | $22,085,858,243 | $41,653,408,482 |
| 1993 | $1,278,781,262 | $1,393,822,475 | $22,367,254,865 | $35,456,139,102 |
| 1994 | $851,174,357 | $1,462,119,071 | $28,448,326,757 | $35,710,334,910 |
| 1995 | $1,115,389,674 | $1,567,392,310 | $30,429,803,651 | $36,587,809,679 |
| 1996 | $1,007,791,127 | $1,504,695,161 | $25,017,368,700 | $39,455,836,485 |
| 1997 | $937,741,513 | $1,584,443,042 | $25,365,908,100 | $40,554,060,118 |
| 1998 | $967,338,390 | $1,658,914,120 | $25,736,331,200 | $40,618,600,304 |
| 1999 | $999,477,511 | $1,718,634,612 | $28,364,615,200 | $43,132,386,084 |
| 2000 | $916,777,283 | $1,675,850,365 | $30,565,400,000 | $45,683,563,279 |
| 2001 | $932,648,605 | $1,750,672,710 | $31,682,400,000 | $47,138,598,430 |
| 2002 | $996,068,145 | $1,813,986,527 | $33,590,500,000 | $47,810,239,203 |
| 2003 | $1,142,315,523 | $1,716,076,873 | $35,901,200,000 | $49,623,557,376 |
| 2004 | $1,272,360,517 | $1,818,953,694 | $38,203,000,000 | $52,487,103,646 |
| 2005 | $1,337,894,379 | $1,835,473,623 | $42,643,836,100 | $58,366,528,663 |
| 2006 | $1,461,859,762 | $1,923,045,638 | $48,835,925,926 | $65,408,954,115 |
| 2007 | $1,699,811,295 | $2,011,650,636 | $54,262,870,370 | $70,159,041,951 |
| 2008 | $1,993,407,888 | $2,052,972,574 | $56,302,129,630 | $73,047,369,064 |
| 2009 | $2,067,381,665 | $2,229,266,676 | $57,481,481,481 | $74,107,509,498 |
| 2010 | $2,142,591,540 | $2,332,499,968 | $59,562,962,963 | $75,878,940,053 |
| 2011 | $2,437,982,705 | $2,430,339,369 | $68,990,000,000 | $78,005,296,225 |
| 2012 | $2,510,126,512 | $2,553,162,919 | $73,141,000,000 | $80,357,078,126 |
| 2013 | $1,691,544,110 | $1,624,016,454 | $77,148,000,000 | $82,564,971,264 |
| 2014 | $1,894,813,389 | $1,625,333,053 | $80,656,100,000 | $83,429,902,609 |
| 2015 | $1,695,825,714 | $1,695,825,714 | $87,132,800,000 | $87,132,800,000 |
| 2016 | $1,825,018,145 | $1,776,382,809 | $91,370,407,864 | $87,579,654,549 |
| 2017 | $2,072,349,973 | $1,856,804,601 | $96,850,649,692 | $89,164,663,931 |
| 2018 | $2,220,979,146 | $1,927,167,164 | $100,050,036,096 | $91,169,039,693 |
| 2019 | $2,221,301,351 | $1,986,909,346 | $103,427,600,000 | $91,020,354,637 |
| 2020 | $2,326,720,900 | $2,004,791,530 | $107,351,800,000 | $81,054,459,000 |
| 2021 | $2,516,498,412 | $2,024,497,026 | - | $82,070,633,423 |
| 2022 | $2,382,618,615 | $2,033,686,257 | - | $83,527,427,216 |
| 2023 | $2,555,492,086 | $2,047,921,418 | - | $81,915,873,064 |
| 2024 | $2,751,544,520 | $2,079,451,881 | - | - |
Economic indicators
|
CAR
|
Cuba
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Gross domestic product |
$2.75B
2024 |
$107B
2020 |
| GDP rank |
171/197
2024 |
69/197
2020 |
| GDP growth |
7.67%
2023-2024 |
3.79%
2019-2020 |
| GDP per capita |
$516
2024 |
$9,605
2020 |
| GDP per capita rank |
194/197
2024 |
87/197
2020 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$1,264
2024 |
$12,300
2016 |
| Government debt |
$1.67B
2024 |
n/a |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
58.3%
2025 |
n/a |
| Government debt per person |
$313
2024 |
n/a |
| Government debt per person rank |
178/185
2024 |
n/a |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$1,261
2025 |
$3,584
2025 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
33.1%
2021 |
n/a |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
2.1%
2021 |
n/a |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
17.9%
2025 |
49%
2025 |
| Consumer prices inflation |
4.6%
2024-2025 |
5.5%
2019-2020 |
| Unemployment rate |
6.9%
2017 |
1.7%
2018 |
| Population |
5662456
|
10937204
|
GDP per capita in Central African Republic vs Cuba
The Central African Republic's GDP per capita is $516, ranking 194/197, compared to $9,605 in Cuba, ranking 87/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), the Central African Republic ranks 195th at $1,264, while Cuba ranks 122nd at $12,300.
| Year | Current $ | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
CAR
|
Cuba
|
|||
| GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | |
| 1960 | $65.9 | - | - | - |
| 1961 | $71 | - | - | - |
| 1962 | $70.4 | - | - | - |
| 1963 | $71.8 | - | - | - |
| 1964 | $77.2 | - | - | - |
| 1965 | $80.2 | - | - | - |
| 1966 | $82.3 | - | - | - |
| 1967 | $83.6 | - | - | - |
| 1968 | $95.6 | - | - | - |
| 1969 | $91.7 | - | - | - |
| 1970 | $90.2 | - | $645 | - |
| 1971 | $94.1 | - | $770 | - |
| 1972 | $105.5 | - | $892 | - |
| 1973 | $121.8 | - | $1,079 | - |
| 1974 | $124 | - | $1,217 | - |
| 1975 | $163.6 | - | $1,374 | - |
| 1976 | $192.1 | - | $1,441 | - |
| 1977 | $213.8 | - | $1,472 | - |
| 1978 | $254.6 | - | $1,837 | - |
| 1979 | $289.1 | - | $2,006 | - |
| 1980 | $325 | - | $2,031 | - |
| 1981 | $280.3 | - | $2,046 | - |
| 1982 | $298.4 | - | $2,114 | - |
| 1983 | $259.6 | - | $2,222 | - |
| 1984 | $248.3 | - | $2,386 | - |
| 1985 | $333 | - | $2,257 | - |
| 1986 | $426 | - | $2,365 | - |
| 1987 | $450 | - | $2,440 | - |
| 1988 | $466 | - | $2,632 | - |
| 1989 | $443 | - | $2,566 | - |
| 1990 | $502 | $620 | $2,694 | - |
| 1991 | $465 | $618 | $2,269 | - |
| 1992 | $462 | $573 | $2,048 | - |
| 1993 | $405 | $570 | $2,063 | - |
| 1994 | $261.3 | $592 | $2,613 | - |
| 1995 | $333 | $631 | $2,785 | - |
| 1996 | $293.3 | $601 | $2,282 | - |
| 1997 | $265.5 | $626 | $2,306 | - |
| 1998 | $266.6 | $645 | $2,332 | - |
| 1999 | $268 | $660 | $2,562 | $1,700 |
| 2000 | $239.2 | $640 | $2,751 | $1,700 |
| 2001 | $238 | $668 | $2,843 | - |
| 2002 | $248.6 | $688 | $3,005 | $2,300 |
| 2003 | $278.4 | $648 | $3,203 | $2,900 |
| 2004 | $303 | $690 | $3,399 | $3,000 |
| 2005 | $312 | $702 | $3,786 | $3,500 |
| 2006 | $334 | $743 | $4,330 | $4,000 |
| 2007 | $381 | $783 | $4,807 | $11,000 |
| 2008 | $437 | $798 | $4,986 | $9,500 |
| 2009 | $456 | $877 | $5,089 | $9,700 |
| 2010 | $477 | $936 | $5,272 | $10,200 |
| 2011 | $534 | $980 | $6,104 | - |
| 2012 | $544 | $1,062 | $6,471 | - |
| 2013 | $364 | $710 | $6,828 | - |
| 2014 | $410 | $699 | $7,147 | - |
| 2015 | $366 | $769 | $7,728 | - |
| 2016 | $387 | $826 | $8,111 | $12,300 |
| 2017 | $432 | $884 | $8,611 | - |
| 2018 | $455 | $906 | $8,911 | - |
| 2019 | $449 | $985 | $9,232 | - |
| 2020 | $463 | $1,066 | $9,605 | - |
| 2021 | $492 | $1,129 | - | - |
| 2022 | $467 | $1,218 | - | - |
| 2023 | $496 | $1,257 | - | - |
| 2024 | $516 | $1,264 | - | - |
Inflation comparison by year
Over the past 22 years, the Central African Republic has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 3.62%, compared with 4.16% in Cuba. In 2020, inflation was 4.6% in the Central African Republic and 5.5% in Cuba.
| Year | Inflation | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
CAR
|
Cuba
|
CAR
|
Cuba
|
| 1996 | 3.8% | - | |
| 1997 | 1.6% | - | |
| 1998 | -2% | - | |
| 1999 | -1.6% | 0.3% | |
| 2000 | 3.4% | - | |
| 2001 | 4.1% | - | |
| 2002 | 2.3% | 7.1% | |
| 2003 | 4.4% | 4.1% | |
| 2004 | -2.6% | 3.1% | |
| 2005 | 2.9% | 7% | |
| 2006 | 6.9% | 5% | |
| 2007 | 0.9% | 3.1% | |
| 2008 | 9.2% | 3.4% | |
| 2009 | 3.6% | -0.5% | |
| 2010 | 1.5% | 0.7% | |
| 2011 | 1.2% | 4.7% | |
| 2012 | 5.9% | 5.5% | |
| 2013 | 4% | 6% | |
| 2014 | 17.8% | - | |
| 2015 | 1.4% | 4.4% | |
| 2016 | 4.9% | 4.5% | |
| 2017 | 4.2% | - | |
| 2018 | 1.6% | 5.5% | |
| 2019 | 2.8% | 5.5% | |
| 2020 | 0.9% | 5.5% | |
| 2021 | 4.3% | - | |
| 2022 | 5.6% | - | |
| 2023 | 3% | - | |
| 2024 | 1.5% | - | |
| 2025 | 4.6% | - | |
Balance of trade
|
CAR
|
Cuba
|
|
|---|---|---|
Current account balance
|
-$24.7M
1994 |
n/a |
| Current account balance ranking |
78/189
1994 |
n/a |
| Current account balance, % of GDP |
-2.9%
1994 |
n/a |
| Goods imports |
$131M
1994 |
n/a |
| Goods exports |
$146M
1994 |
n/a |
| Service imports |
$114M
1994 |
n/a |
| Service exports |
$33.1M
1994 |
n/a |
| Imports of goods and services, % of GDP |
32.4%
2024 |
64.6%
2023 |
| Exports of goods and services, % of GDP |
15.5%
2024 |
43.5%
2023 |
Economic freedom indices
The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.
|
CAR
|
Cuba
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Economic freedom | 42.8 | 25.4 |
| Economic freedom ranking | 184/197 | 195/197 |
| Property rights | 6.9 | 29.9 |
| Government integrity | 19.6 | 33.4 |
| Judicial effectiveness | 4 | 14.3 |
| Tax burden | 65.5 | 51.9 |
| Government spending | 89.8 | 0 |
| Fiscal health | 53.8 | 0 |
| Business freedom | 27.1 | 42.3 |
| Labor freedom | 48.3 | 20 |
| Monetary freedom | 72.8 | 20 |
| Trade freedom | 50.4 | 72.8 |
| Investment freedom | 45 | 10 |
| Financial freedom | 30 | 10 |
Economic freedom by year comparison
The Economic Freedom Index for the Central African Republic is 42.8, ranking 184/197, compared to 25.4 for Cuba, ranking 195/197. The chart below displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.
| Year | Economic freedom index | |
|---|---|---|
|
CAR
|
Cuba
|
|
| 1995 | - | 27.8 |
| 1996 | - | 27.8 |
| 1997 | - | 27.8 |
| 1998 | - | 28.2 |
| 1999 | - | 29.7 |
| 2000 | - | 31.3 |
| 2001 | - | 31.6 |
| 2002 | 59.8 | 32.4 |
| 2003 | 60 | 35.1 |
| 2004 | 57.5 | 34.4 |
| 2005 | 56.5 | 35.5 |
| 2006 | 54.2 | 29.3 |
| 2007 | 50.6 | 28.6 |
| 2008 | 48.6 | 27.5 |
| 2009 | 48.3 | 27.9 |
| 2010 | 48.4 | 26.7 |
| 2011 | 49.3 | 27.7 |
| 2012 | 50.3 | 28.3 |
| 2013 | 50.4 | 28.5 |
| 2014 | 46.7 | 28.7 |
| 2015 | 45.9 | 29.6 |
| 2016 | 45.2 | 29.8 |
| 2017 | 51.8 | 33.9 |
| 2018 | 49.2 | 31.9 |
| 2019 | 49.1 | 27.8 |
| 2020 | 50.7 | 26.9 |
| 2021 | 48.8 | 28.1 |
| 2022 | 45.7 | 29.5 |
| 2023 | 43.8 | 24.3 |
| 2024 | 41.3 | 25.7 |
| 2025 | 42.8 | 25.4 |
More economic indicators
|
CAR
|
Cuba
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Services, % of GDP |
40.5%
2024 |
70%
2023 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
17.8%
2024 |
27.5%
2023 |
| Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP |
32.5%
2024 |
1.31%
2023 |
|
GNI, Atlas method
|
$2.75B
2024 |
$101B
2019 |
| GNI per capita, PPP |
$1,340
2024 |
n/a |
| Total reserves including gold |
$480M
2023 |
$144M
1960 |
| Total reserves ranking |
158/177
2023 |
173/177
1960 |
|
Net foreign direct investment
|
$3.6M
1994 |
n/a |
|
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
|
$40.4M
2024 |
n/a |
|
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
|
$1.29K
2002 |
n/a |
|
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
|
1.41%
2023 |
n/a |
| Poverty at national poverty lines |
68.8%
2021 |
n/a |
|
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
|
15.4%
2024 |
9.88%
2020 |
GDP per capita map
GDP per capita
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Economy comparisons
The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.
Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.
A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).
Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.
Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.
Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.
Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.